My partner is been induced at 39 weeks but should be opt for a c section

[Bamn]

My partner started bleeding quite heavily this Thursday at about 12:30. Obviously we where extremely concerned so we phoned ahead and rushed to the hospital. When we got there they put her on the trace machine to check the baby. The baby thank God was fine, heart beat and movement was good. Then she had an internal examination which showed she wasn't in labour and everything was ok, although she was still bleeding. So then we had a scan and thank God again the baby was perfect and the placenta was up high so it wasn't this bleeding. So then they admitted her to a ward to monitor her. She has been there for two days and has just been released. They have given her a date for induction of the 7th feb so thats just overt a week away and we've been told to go straight back if there is anymore pain or bleeding. This is all a bit of a shock after our well laid out birth plan has now gone out of the window, but our priority is babys health so can accept that these thing need to be done for baby and mom to be monitored properly. Our big question, and one there may be no answer to is would we be better having a elective C section. We've read a lot of things on the internet and a big worry is going though the induction process for days and the having to have the section at the end anyway. Personally I think that unless mom is completely calm and relaxed during the induction the labour could be very lengthy, but after our experiences over the last few days at the hospital there chances of this are slim. The ward stank of smoke because the other PREGNANT patients went out to smoke every 30min. The staffe tried their best but the ward was so busy and id did seem like people weren't getting the best possible treatment at the best possible time. Been our first baby my partner is obviously very nervios especially after the last few days so just the though of me leaving her the first night she is induced is upsetting her, but it is a strong possibility if she hasn't reached labour yet. I know sections come with there own risks but it seems like it could be a much better option for us. If anyone has any similar experiences or advice it would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Tom

What did the consultant say?

a c-section will keep you in the ward longer than a natural birth

I've had 3 inductions and also a c/s (4 pregnancies). Things to consider are:

• Being on a ward post-section was far worse than being on a ward during induction. During the induction you can at least move around, go to the loo etc. After a c/s you are far more reliant on staff for at least the first day. Even picking the baby up to feed/change them may require extra help.

• Depending on your hospital's policy you may find that you can't stay with her all day post-section. Ours had at least a couple of hours when no visitors were allowed.

• You usually get to leave hospital far more quickly with an induction than a c/s. Depending on circumstances you may be allowed to leave on the same day that the baby is born. After a c/s you usually have to stay for at least 48hrs.

Good luck to you both, whichever you decide to opt for. I hope the remainder of the pregnancy goes well too.

I personally would opt for induction in your situation as the recovery is much quicker. It's not inevitable by any means that she would end up with a CS.

Being 'calm and relaxed' is unlikely to be a factor in the length of labour as far as I'm aware, though I understand what you're saying about it not being a nice experience.

I am one of those who had long and drawn out induction that didn't work and ended up with a CS. The induction was not a good experience but with hindsight I would say that it could have been made easier and possibly more effective had I insisted on being mobile and not kept strapped to the bed with drip and continual monitoring. My CS was fine and I recovered very well but you are on the ward for 3 days or so. Once you've had one CS it makes all subsequent births more high risk and restricts certain options so on balance, I would suggest accepting the induction but perhaps speaking in advance to the consultant or midwife about how far /long you are prepared to go before asking for CS. If it does not work within a certain timeframe you do end up being without rest, food etc for many many hours and the eventual birth by CS is a rather hazy memory! Best of luck.

All 3 of my boys were inductions, first 2 to pre eclampsia and last 1 at 38 weeks because of concerns of DSs size. First 2 went by the book I suppose - pessaries, oxytocin, breaking waters etc etc - both long labours, I took the epidural twice as I had heard that inductions can bring on the contractions like "whoosh" rather than a slow build up, plus I dont do pain well, I figure all that matters is a healthy baby, we dont get a medal for doing it without pain relief lol.

2nd labour went on a bit and DS2 was back to back, and I nearly ended up in theatre for forceps but luckily didnt.

DS3 was another induction and went much the same as before, excpet I wasnt progressing and eventually had to have an emergency c section because DS was stuck - still had to be born with forceps as he had got stuck somewhere in my pelvis. As it was he was 9 lbs 13 - at 38 weeks so god knows what size he would have been if he went full term.

Taking out the fact it was an emcs, of course I was grateful that he was born healthy (albeit he had to be resusitated) - I would pick induction over a planned cs any day. Recovery period knocked me for 6, its a major op at the end of the day. Im not one of those silly women who feel they have "failed" by not having a vaginal delivery or anything like that, but I would have much prefered it.

An ELCS cn be a lovely calm experience. I recoverd well and quickly from both my ELCS and was home within 48 hours both times. A CS doesn't always mean a longer recovey - some VBs can leave you with damage that can take just as long or even longer to recover from.

I would question if there is no more bleeding and if hte baby is fine , that induction is delayed, especially if your partner is not ready to labour

the doctor should do what is termed a 'Bishops score' which assesses the readiness of the body to labour, it looks at how engaged the baby is, the lenght, thickness, softness, position and dilation of hte cervix.

if the body is not ready, induction could take days and still not be successful, in which case a c.section would be done

it is impossible to predict though how things will go, although certain factors can give a good indication. some women can look totally unready to labour, one pessary later ( to ripen the cervix) they are in full labour and hav a baby 4 hours later ! Some women require 2 - 3 pessaries, followed by breaking the waters, followed by a hormone drip to get labour going and don't progress past 4 cm.

i would be asking lots of questions and finding out the risks and benefits of induction, waiting for induction, waiting for spontaenous labour and a planned section

if no more bleeding and hte placenta is in the right place, perhaps more monitoring rather than an early induciton>

you can ask for a section, but it can have knock on effects for future pregnancies and labours and is not without risk and can mean extra days in hospital

a section performed before 39 weeks also comes with additional risks

Why are they inducing? Did they tell you what had caused the bleeding?

I had an emcs after a very long labour and I was home 12 hours later, had an easy recovery and needed no pain relief.

BUT if I had my time over I would always always try for a vaginal birth if I could. For lots and lots of reasons. It has impacted upon a lot of things, not least the care you receive and the limitations placed upon a subsequent pregnancy/delivery.

Your partner doesn't want to be alone at the beginning of the induction process before labour has been established but there's a strong possibility that post-cs you will be sent home and she will be post-operative, numb and caring for a small baby. This is a very, very difficult time if you're on a busy ward which it sounds like she would be.

Inductions aren't all bad I believe. You still have choices and options and a vaginal birth is the safest thing for a baby on balance.

A cs is major abdominal surgery and while I had an easy an straightforward recovery, I would never choose it.

I would want a proper diagnosis of the bleeding before proceeding to 'treatment'.